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VISA USA reports that on December 23rd, the payment network’s data centers cleared and settled a record $9.8 billion. Also, the payment network’s data centers processed a record 6,803 transactions per second, sustained over a one-hour period on December 22nd, a 7% increase from the previous year. VISA also says retail categories that experienced the strongest year-over-year sales increases during the holiday shopping season included drugstores/pharmacies, electronics and home furnishings stores and restaurants. VISA says its volume also showed that the holiday season turned out to be softer than many had predicted.

San Antonio-based Payment Data Systems reports that its November credit card processing dollar volume increased 119% from the comparable month one year ago, as transaction volume grew 95% year-over-year. December experienced similar gains with dollars processed gaining 114% over the comparable month one year ago and transaction volume growing 85% over December 2005. Volumes for the fourth quarter of 2006 outpaced those of the prior year quarter by 143% for dollars processed and 234% for transactions processed.

PA-based USA Technologies has redeemed “Convertible Senior Notes,” having a face value of $4.3 million, to strengthen its balance sheet. After repayment of the notes, the company reports that as of December 31, 2006, it had approximately $8.4 million cash on hand, and roughly $20 million in shareholder equity.

Monthly payment rates, the amount that cardholders pay on their credit card debt, headed north to 19.82% in November, but remain well below the average rate for the year. Payment rates reached nearly 22% during 2006 driven by increased minimum payments and a robust economy. However, the overall trend in payment rates is headed down for 2007 as borrowers are increasingly pressured by current economic factors. According to FitchRatings, the gross yield increased 39 basis points in November to 17.96%, and is seven basis points above year-ago levels. Fitch expects gross yield to remain stable as payment rates decline.

Credit card debt soared to a new record, hitting A$37.3 billion in October. Credit card volume also regained strength, approaching the record high set in August. Additionally, credit card limits reached a new high, topping A$100 billion for the second consecutive month. Card volume increased to A$16.4 billion during October, compared to A$15.4 billion in September and a record A$16.5 billion in August. During the past twelve months, credit card debt has increased 15.5% in Australia. For October, credit card balances increased A$100 million from the previous month. One-year ago credit card debt stood at A$32.3 billion. Gross dollar volume on credit card and charge cards was A$14.5 billion one-year ago. Year-on-year credit card volume has increased 11% in Australia. Card credit limits reached A$101.8 billion at the end of October, compared to A$89.5 billion for October 2005. There are currently 13.2 million credit card and charge card accounts in Australia, compared to 12.4 million one-year ago.

ClickandBuy continues to expands its U.S. presence with the addition of three independent online music stores. Globally, about 7 million consumers and more than 6,000 online merchants use the ePayment service. The service is available in 13 European countries and the U.S. The three new U.S. merchants include Icarus Music Store, Gambit Music Group and BeatRecords. ClickandBuy offers a hosted digital commerce system and provides different types of payment methods, including yearly subscriptions, micropayments or single downloads of songs.

Credit card delinquencies of 60 days or more continued to build for the third consecutive month. Slowing income growth, declining home prices, and a weaker manufacturing environment are driving factors behind the recent rise. According to the latest “Fitch Credit Card Index,” “prime” delinquency, among credit card-backed securities increased to 2.50% in November, compared to 2.40% for October and 2.33% for September. One-year ago delinquency stood at 2.09%.

FL-based National Payment Card and Murphy Oil USA have teamed to introduce a system that enables consumers to pay at the pump or in-store using a driver’s license with a magnetic stripe that will be tied to their checking account. Murphy, which has approximately 984 stations located in 21 states, plans to offer the option to its customers in twelve states. The National Payment Card PIN-based payment system processes transactions through the ACH and also offers a self-funded loyalty program for immediate savings at the pump for consumers. National Payment Card’s charge to merchants is a flat-fee of 15 cents per transaction on a loyalty card and 17 cents on a sale to a third party card or driver’s license. Pinnacle has added National Payment Card to its product payment modules and Verifone has also certified the National Payment Card interface to work with its “Ruby/Sapphire POS.” National Payment Card says there are about 150 million Americans carrying driver’s licenses with magnetic stripes across 24 states.

SD-based First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard has renewed its credit card processing agreement with First Data for its 4.3 million cardholders. Under the terms of the long-term contract extension, First Data will continue to provide comprehensive card processing services, including statement production and mailing and plastics personalization. First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses worldwide. First PREMIER Bank, together with its sister organization PREMIER Bankcard, is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

NY-based Constantine Cannon, the lead counsel for the debit card litigation, which resulted in a $3 billion settlement with VISA and MasterCard, announced that a proposed settlement has been reached in a dispute between U.S. Government, merchants, and VISA and MasterCard. One year ago the U.S. filed a $10 million claim against the debit card “Settlement Fund” seeking fees it overpaid for accepting debit cards. Among other details of the proposed settlement, VISA and MasterCard will pay $3.5 million and the “Settlement Fund” will pay approximately $3.7 million, and the United States will forego $3.7 million of its claim.